Package of frangible connectible products and means for retaining crumbs thereof

ABSTRACT

The packaging of frangible products subject to having crumbs and/or fragments broken therefrom wherein means is provided for retaining such crumbs and/or fragments within the package when the package is positioned to pour products therefrom.

United States Patent [19 1 SIone PACKAGE OF FRANGIBLE CONNECTIBLEPRODUCTS AND MEANS FOR RETAINING CRUMBS THEREOF Thomas J. Slone, ForestPark, Ohio The Proctor & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed: Apr.27, 1972 Appl. No.: 248,135

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl 426/115, 248/346, 426/124 Int. Cl B65b 23/16, B65d 85/30 Field ofSearch... 206/65 K; 99/171 CP, 171 R; 206/46 F; 248/346, 346.1; 426/124,106,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1949 Buttery 99/171 R UX3/1960 Stagner 206/46 F Primary ExaminerFrank W. Lutter AssistantExaminer-Steven L. Weinstein Attorney, Agent, or FirmTh0mas J. Slone;John V. Gorman; Richmond C. Witte 5 7] ABSTRACT The packaging offrangible products subject to having crumbs and/or fragments brokentherefrom wherein means is provided for retaining such crumbs and/orfragments within the package when the package is positioned to pourproducts therefrom.

4 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures .u... w::::. W m A 19 (no PATENTED HH2 1914V slaz 1. 42s SHEEI 2 BF 2 1 PACKAGE OF FRANGIBLE CONNECTIBLE PRODUCTSAND MEANS FOR RETAINING CRUMBS THEREOF FIELD OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to providing a package of frangible productssuch as chip-type snack food products which are subject to having crumbsand/or fragments broken therefrom during packaging and handling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION intended purpose of the products.

Whenever frangible products are packaged in con tainers that requireinverting the container to dispense the products contained therewithin,any crumbs or fragments that have been broken from the products or thatwere packaged with the products are simultaneously dispensed into thehand of the consumer, or

. between the fingers of the consumer onto the floor, or

onto the plate of the consumer, or the like. An example of this type ofpackaging of chip-type snack food produ'cts is disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,498,798 issued to Fredric .I. Baur, et a], Mar. 3, I970, commonlyowned by the assignee of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The natureand substance of 'the invention willbe more readily appreciated after giving consideration to its major aimsand purposes. The principal objects of the invention are recited in theensuing paragraphs in order to provide a better appreciation of itsimportant aspects prior to' describing the details of a preferredembodiment in later portions of this description.

' A major object of the invention is providing a package of frangibleproducts which includes means for retaining crumbs and fragments of suchproducts within the package upon dispensing the products therefrom.

Another major object of the invention is providing a retainerfordividing a tubular container into two chambers so that frangibleproducts can be accommodated within one chamber and wherein crumbs andfragments of products are conducted to and trapped within the otherchamber so that when the container is positioned to dispense theproducts therefrom the crumbs and fragments are retained within theother chamber.

These and other objects are achieved by providing a packageof frangibleproducts which package includes a container having a removableaccess-enabling portion, a retainer having a passageway therethrough,means for maintaining the retainer within the container so that thecontainer is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber, and aplurality of frangible products in the first chamber so thatcrumbs andfragments broken from the products are conducted through the passagewayinto the second chamber when the package is in a first position and aretrapped in the second chamber when the package is oriented to a secondposition as by tilting to effect pouring the products .from thecontainer after removal of its access-enabling portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes withclaims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subjectmatter regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed theinvention will be better understood from the following descriptiontakenin connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a package of frangibleproducts embodying the present invention wherein the container ispartially broken away to show the arrangement of both the products and aretainer within the container.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one form of retainer which maybe used ina package embodying the present invention. 7

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a saddle-shape, nestable potato chipwhich may be packaged in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken long line 6-6 of FIG. 5. I

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another shape of potato chip which maybe packaged in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another shape of potato chip whichmay be packaged in accordance with the present invention, itsshape beingplanar-eliptical.

FIG. 10 is'a cross-sectional view of the potato chip of FIG. 9 takenalong line l0-l0 thereof.

7 FIG. 11 is a plan view of an alt emate shape retainer embodying twopedestal supports which retainer may be used in a package in accordancewith thepresent invention. I

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line l2l2 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 ofFIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a planar view of yet another alternate shape retainerembodying a bridge support which retainer may be used in a package inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line l6l6 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of still another alternate retainerconfiguration which may be used in a package in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line l818 of FIG. 17.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The tubular body 21 of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention has a cylindrical crosssection which is closed at its ends by end closure members 22, 23. Thecombination of the body and the end closures is hereinafter referred toas container 28. Body 21 can be constructed of any conventionalmaterials but is preferably made from materials which are sufficientlyrigid to withstand handling and shipping loads and which materials aresubstantially impervious to the passage of gasses so that oxygen andwater vapor are precluded from entering the package for the purpose ofobviating rancidity of frying fat that may be retained by potato chipscausing staling of such chips themselves.

End closure 22 having an access-enabling portion which is not detailedin the figures, and end closure 23 are secured to body 21 by crimping,or adhesives, or the like to provide a tight, hermetic seal to thepackage.

An example of a suitable container 28 having the requisite strength andoxygen barrier properties is disclosed in the hereinbefore referencedUS. Pat. No. 3,498,798 issued to Fredric J. Baur et al, Mar. 3, 1970.

Retainer 24, FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises'funnel portion 30, supports 31,and legs 32. Although retainer 24 is shown in the figures to be ofunitary construction and is configured to be injection molded ofthermoplastic material in a two piece die assembly, it will be obviousto those having ordinary skill in the art that such a retainer could bean assemblage of a plurality of discrete parts, or that the functions ofa retainer could be accomplished by a plurality of discrete parts, orthat a retainer could be secured to body 21 to obviate legs 32.Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present invention to the useof either molded retainers or retainers comprising thermoplasticmaterial.

Funnel portion 30, hereinafter referred to as funnel 30, has the shapeof a truncated hollow cone having a funnel-shape upwardly facing surface33, a rim or perimeter 34, passageway 35, and'a plurality of slots 36which extend radially and upwardly from edge 37 defining passageway 35.Slots 36 are provided in this embodiment retainer to enable upwardlyfacing portions of the lower die member of a two piece die assembly toproject upwardly therethrough in order to define the downwardly facingsurfaces 38 of supports 31 as will'be readily understood without furtheramplification by those having ordinary skill in the injection moldingart. The outside diameter of rim 34 is approximately equal to the insidediameter of body 21 to substantially preclude communication therearoundwhen the retainer is installed in body 21. Indeed there could be aninterference fit of retainer 24 in body 21 which could obviate the needfor legs '32 on retainer 24. The diameter of passageway 35 is sized topermit the passage therethrough of crumbs and/or fragments 29 offrangible articles such as potato chips 26, FIG. 5, to pass therethroughbut to substantially preclude the passage therethrough of whole potatochips 26 or fragments thereof greater than a predetermined size.Supports 31 of retainer 24 extend upwardly and radially inwardly fromthe rim 34 of funnel 30 so that an array 25, FIG. 1, of potato chips 26can be supported on the upwardly facing portions of the supports so thatthe lowermost end of the array is spaced above the upwardly facingsurface 33 of funnel 30. Legs 32, FIG. 4, of retainer 24 extenddownwardly from funnel 30 to space the lowermost end of funnel 30, edge37, a distance h above a surface upon which the retainer is placed suchas the upwardly facing, inside surface of closure 23, FIG. 1. Distance henables crumbs and fragments that pass downwardly through passageway 35to move radially ouwardly into the annular space 39, FIG. 1, subjacentfunnel 30 in which annular space 39 such crumbs and fragments 29 will betrapped and retained in the event package 20, FIG. 1, is inverted todispense potato chips 26 after the removal of the access-enablingportion of closure 22.

Referring again to FIG. 1, when retainer 24 is positioned insidecontainer 28 so that the distal ends of legs 32 rest on-the upwardlyfacing surface of closure 23, the retainer divides the space withincontainer 28 into a first or upper chamber 45 for the accommodation ofarray 25, and a second or lower chamber 46 comprising in part annularspace 39, which chambers 45, 46 communicate through passageway 35.Referring still to FIG. 1, retainer 24 is fixed within container 28 byvirtue of having its rim 34 subjacent the lower end of liner 27 which,in turn, has its upper end immediately subjacent closure 22.

Saddle-shape potato chips 26, FIGS. 56, are shown in FIG; 2 to have anoval shape in their plan view. The major diameter, d,, of potato chips26 is nearly as large as the inside diameter of liner 27 within body 21but is small enough to not cause an interference fit between potatochips 26 of array 25 and the inside diameter of the body 21 with liner27 installed therein. The minor diameter d is somewhat larger than thediameter 11;, of passageway 35 to preclude the passage of whole potatochips 26 therethrough. Thus, when array 25 is disposed within container28, FIG. 1, and has its lower end supported by supports 31 of retainer24, vertically extending tubular spaces 49, 50 are defined between thesides of array 25 and the adjacent inwardly facing surfaces of liner 27.As shown in FIG. 2, tubular spaces 49, 50 have crescent-shape crosssections. Tubular spaces 49, 50 form vertically extending conduits downwhich crumbs and fragments 29 which are broken from potato chips 26comprising array 25 may pass downwardly. through body 21, then betweensupports 31 under array 25, and ultimately through passageway 35 intolower chamber 46. Because the portions of potato chips 26, FIG. 5,adjacent their minor diameter edges are turned downwardly when aplurality of potato chips 26 form an array 25 oriented as shown in FIG.1, sluffing of any crumbs and fragments which become separated from thepotato chips in the array is promoted so that the crumbs and fragmentsare conducted downwardly through tubular spaces 49, 50 and thencethrough passageway 35. Thus, when access is made through closure 22 todispense potato chips 26 therethrough, and the package 20 is oriented topour the desired quantity of potato chips 26 therefrom, any crumbs orfragments 29 of chips 26 that have theretofor passed into lower chamber46 will be retained in the annular space 39 subjacent funnel 30 ofretainer 24 which entrapped crumbs or fragments 29 are thus precludedfrom being poured from package 20 with potato chips 26.

The present invention is not believed to be dependent upon anyparticular geometry of potato chips or other frangible products whichmay be packaged in upper chamber 45, so long as void spaces in thenature of tubular spaces '49, 50 are provided to conduct crumbs andfragments 29 downwardly through the container, and so long as theproducts do not block passageway 35. Therefore, no further discussion ofthe present invention-in conjunction with alternate shapes of productssuch as. 26a and 26b, FIGS. 7 through 10, is included in this disclosureof the present invention.

ALTERNATE RETAINER EMBODIMENTS Alternate retainer embodiments 24a, 24b,and 240 are shown in FIGS. 11 through 18 wherein features which areidentical to features of retainer 24 of FIGS. 3, 4 are designated by thesame designators and similar features are designated by identicaldesignators having letter suffixes.

Alternate retainer embodiment 24a, FIGS. 11 through 14, is configured toperform the same functions as retainer 24 and to permit a plurality ofretainers 24a to be stacked into a nested array to reduce their bulkduring shipment and/or to facilitate their handling by automatedpackaging equipment. Retainer 24a has two upwardly projecting hollowsupports or pedestals 31a, comprising sloping walls 60, 61,, FIG. 13,and top walls 62 having shaped upwardly facing surfaces 63. Surfaces 63are contouredto be coincident with the downwardly facing superjacentsurfaces of the lowermost potato chip 26 of an array 25.0f potato chips26 stacked thereon in inverted relation relative to array 25, FIG. 1.Thus, the weight of array 25 would be distributed over the areas ofsurfaces 63 and the coincident areas of the lowermost potato chip 26 inarray 25 which would substantially reduce the stresses on the potatochips in the lower end of array 25. As will be understood by thoseskilled in the art of packaging frangible materials, such distributionof the weight of a stacked array of frangible articles substantiallyreduces the probability of fracturing the articles disposed in the lowerend of the array.

Referring now to FIG. 14, legs 32a of retainer 24a are shown to beextensions of the truncated cone comprising funnel 30a which legs extenddownwardly and radially inwardly from the lowermost edge 37a of funnel30a. Thus, because supports 31a are hollow and have sloping side walls60, 61, and because legs 32a are sloped as described. and because of thetruncated conical shape of funnel 30a, alternate retainers 24a can benested as hereinbefore stated.

Alternate retainer embodiment 24b, FIGS. and 16, is also configured sothat a plurality thereof can be stacked into a nested array to reducetheir composite bulk for shipment and for other purposes as hereinbeforedescribed in conjunction with alternate retainer embodiment 24a.However, retainer 24b has a single, full span, bridge member 72 havingan upwardly facing surface 73 which is configured to be coincident withthe superjacent downwardly facing area of the lowermost article in astacked array 25, FIG. 1, of articles 26 to be supported thereon. Bridgemember 72 is supported by sloping side walls 70, 71 which space surface73 far enough above the upwardly facing surface 33a of funnel 30a sothat crumbs and fragments can pass under the lower end of an arraysupported on surface 73 and thence downwardly through passageway 35b.Thus, the greater area of surface 73 of retainer 24b, FIG. 15, ascompared to the total of both surfaces 63 of retainers 24a, FIG. 11,further reduces the stress on the lowermost potato chip 26 of an array25 positioned thereon which further reduces the probability of crackingor fracturing the potato chips 26 in the lower end of such an array ashereinbefore described.

Alternate retainer embodiment 24c, FIGS. 17, 18, is somewhat similar toretainer 24 in function and form except supports 31c do not extendupwardly above the rim of funnel 30c and supports 31c are not undercutor cantilevered as supports 31, FIG. 3. Thus, all aother dimensions andangles being equal, the clearance between adjacent supports 31c, FIG.17, through which crumbs and fragments may pass is smaller than theclearance between adjacent supports 31 of retainer 24, FIG. 3. However,notwithstanding such smaller clear ance, retainer 24c is compatible witha wide range of configurations of frangible products; does perform, whenassembled into container 28, the function of dividing container 28 intoan upper and a lower chamber; and, will retain crumbs and fragments offrangible products in the lower chamber when the container is invertedto dispense products from the upper chamber.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, itwill be obvious to those skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such changes and modifications that arewithin the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A package of uniformly shaped frangible comestible products, saidpackage comprising:

' a container comprising a rigid tubular body, a bottom closure, and anopenable top closure;

a retainer having a rim defining its perimeter and an edge defining apassageway therethrough, said retainer being configured and disposed ata predetermined position within said container to divide the interiorvolume of said container into an upper chamber and a lower chamberinterconnected substantially only through said passageway, saidpassageway being of a size sufficient to substantially preclude passageof whole said products there through but to freely pass crumbs andfragments of said products, said retainer having an upwardly facingfunnel-shape surface which slopes downwardly from adjacent the perimeterof said retainer to adjacent said passageway;

means for maintaining said retainer in said predetermined positionwithin said container regardless of the orientation of said package, atwhich position said passageway is spaced from said bottom closure, saidspacing enabling said crumbs and fragments which pass downwardly throughsaid passageway to thereafter move radially outwardly in said lowerchamber;

a plurality of said products arranged in a stacked array disposed insaid upper chamber, said products having a smaller plan configurationthan the cross sectional area of said tubular container so that agenerally vertically extending elongate space is formed intermediate aside of said array and the adjacent inside surface of said tubular body;and,

wherein: said uniformly shaped products are nestable and are nested toform said stacked array; and, said retainer includes said means forsupporting said array above said funnel-shape surface.

8 3. The package of frangible products of claim 2 wherein:

said retainer includes said means for maintaining said retainer so thatthe lowermost end of said passageway is spaced from said bottom closure;and

said means for spacing the bottom end of said array from saidfunnel-shape surface includes an upwardly facing area configured to becoincident with a substantial contiguous downwardly facing area of thelowermost product comprising said array whereby the weight of said arrayis distributed over said areas.

4. The package of frangible products of claim 3 wherein:

said products are saddle-shape snack food products having a somewhatoval plan view configuration with their minor diameter edges curvedoppositely from their major diameter edges; and,

said container has a circular-shape transverse cross section whereby twosaid elongate spaces are formed adjacent said minor edges which elongatespaces both have generally crescent-shape transverse cross sections;and,

said array is disposed so that the products comprising said array havetheir minor diameter edges turned downwardly to optimize sloughing saidcrumbs and fragments towards and downwardly through said tubular spaces.

I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l CORRECTION Patent No. 1, To Dated June28, 1974 Inventor(s) Thomas J. Slone It is certified that error appearsin the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Front Title Page of Patent in Title, CONNECTIBLE should be--COMESTIBLE--; Attorney, Agent, or Firm, Richmond should be Richard--.

r First page of Specification, Column 1, line 1, CONNEC'I'IBLE should be-COMESTIBLE-- Column 4, line 18, ouwardly should be -outwardly--; Column6, line 20, aother should be -other--; T f

Signed and sealed this 24th day of December 3.974..

(SEAL) Attest:

McGOY M. GIBSON JR. I c. MARSHALL DANN 1 Arresting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-1050 (1 uscoMM-Dc 60376-P6Q U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE: I969 O-366-334

1. A package of uniformly shaped frangible comestible products, saidpackage comprising: a container comprising a rigid tubular body, abottom closure, and an openable top closure; a retainer having a rimdefining its perimeter and an edge defining a passageway therethrough,said retainer being configured and disposed at a predetermined positionwithin said container to divide the interior volume of said containerinto an upper chamber and a lower chamber interconnected substantiallyonly through said passageway, said passageway being of a size sufficientto substantially preclude passage of whole said products therethroughbut to freely pass crumbs and fragments of said products, said retainerhaving an upwardly facing funnel-shape surface which slopes downwardlyfrom adjacent the perimeter of said retainer to adjacent saidpassageway; means for maintaining said retainer in said predeterminedposition within said container regardless of the orientation of saidpackage, at which position said passageway is spaced from said bottomclosure, said spacing enabling said crumbs and fragments which passdownwardly through said passageway to thereafter move radially outwardlyin said lower chamber; a plurality of said products arranged in astacked array disposed in said upper chamber, said products having asmaller plan configuration than the cross sectional area of said tubularcontainer so that a generally vertically extending elongate space isformed intermediate a side of said array and the adjacent inside surfaceof said tubular body; and, support means for spacing said array abovesaid funnel-shape surface such that said elongate space communicateswith said passageway above said funnel-shape surface, said spacing/beingsufficient to enable said crumbs and fragments to gravitate downwardlythrough said elongate space and thence pass under said array anddownwardly through said passageway into said lower chamber when saidpackage is upright, whereby said crumbs and fragments will be retainedin said lower chamber when said package is tilted to a downwardlyinclined position as when pouring said products therefrom.
 2. Thepackage of frangible products of claim 1 wherein: said uniformly shapedproducts are nestable and are nested to form said stacked array; and,said retainer includes said means for supporting said array above saidfunnel-shape surface.
 3. The package of frangible products of claim 2wherein: said retainer includes said means for maintaining said retainerso that the lowermost end of said passageway is spaced from said bottomclosure; and said means for spacing the bottom end of said array fromsaid funnel-shape surface includes an upwardly facing area configured tobe coincident with a substantial contiguous downwardly facing area ofthe lowermost product comprising said array whereby the weight of saidarray is distributed over said areas.
 4. The package of frangibleproducts of claim 3 wherein: said products are saddle-shape snack foodproducts having a somewhat oval plan view configuration with their minordiameter edges curved oppositely from their major diameter edges; and,said container has a circular-shape transverse cross section whereby twosaid elongate spaces are formed adjacent said minor edges which elongatespaces both have generally crescent-shape transverse cross sections;and, said array is disposed so that the products comprising said arrayhave their minor diameter edges turned downwardly to optimize sloughingsaid crumbs and fragments towards and downwardly through said tubularspaces.